Sucia Island's much talked about Snoring Bay, is a sleepy little cove tucked in-between Fossil Bay and Echo bay. Snoring bay has become a favorite destination amongst those seeking a more intimate anchorage. Having only two mooring buoys, you won't find many larger motor yachts and sailboats here at one time, but this unique little cove is very popular with kayakers and small boats on weekends and holidays so don't assume there's going to be a buoy sitting there waiting for your arrival.

The idea of visiting a tiny secluded island cove may sound romantic or adventurous, but snoring bay really does live up to its name. There really isn't all that much there to see or do but then that is actually the attraction for those that seek it out, however, once you're on shore you can explore the main trails that lead to the other parts of Sucia island. A Family with small children might enjoy beachcombing in the shallow waters of Snoring bay during low tide, but the fact that it's so shallow near the shore makes landing an inflatable dingy somewhat difficult.

Once you navigate your way through patches of eel grass you then have to wade a few hundred feet through 8-16 inches of water, all the while watching out for snags, old crab pots, sharp shells, as well as angry crabs. Wading through the shallow water not knowing what you're going to step on next can be fun, unless you're with a friend or spouse that believes stepping on a crab will mean certain death--- If you have one of these people in your life, you might want to wait for high tide before you go ashore. You will also want to keep in mind that beaching your dinghy while the tide is going out could leave you high and dry, forcing you to carry your boat over sharp rocks and shells to launch it in deeper water.

Pay Station

Once ashore you'll find a handy pay station off to the right, and a weathered picnic table in the middle with a great view of both snoring cove and mud bay. In fact, if it weren't for the bank of pebbles making up a small ridge, snoring bay would be a continuation of mud bay.

There are trailheads at both sides of the beach with one going over a ridge towards fossil bay and the other circling around mud bay and joining up with trails to the rest of the island.

This small cove may be more isolated and less visited than the other Sucia Island anchorages but the numerous mosquitoes and insects that reside here help to ensure that it's never boring.

How It Got Its Name?

With only two buoys and a small beach, you might think this tiny cove got its name due to the fact that its a sleepy or boring place to moor your boat, but Snoring Bay was actually named after a park ranger was caught sleeping on the job there years ago, or so the story goes. He never thought he'd be caught snoozing in such an out of the way place, but even though Sucia Island has many out of the way places that seem very private, no place on the island is ever very far from a trail, campsite, or anchorage.

View Of Mud Bay From Snoring Bay

A. Behind this grouping of trees is the popular floating dock in fossil bay.

B. Stone structure from the water system and dock I believe were part of the quarry operation that once provided sandstone for Seattle. The quarry was closed when the stone was determined to be too soft.

C. Ranger's station / Maintenance Buildings. A very simple cabin with what looks to be an outhouse out back and a barn.

MUD BAY

Mud bay is one of the more historic locations on Sucia Island but not one of the most beautiful. If you're looking for a small cove experience I would suggest you go to Matia island which is only a few miles away due east. I enjoyed my visit to Snoring bay because I like to explore new places and I want to see all there is to see in the San Juan islands but Snoring bay isn't my favorite place. I can see why that Ranger fell asleep here. I just hope he was wearing plenty of bug spray before he passed out.

The photo to the left is a glamour shot of mud bay at high tide. You can see the ridge between mud bay and snoring bay in the background.
At low tide the bay is completely empty.